Meeting Santa, gathering ideas for decorating Christmas trees and supporting the hospice program at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center were reasons that students and Charleston residents came out to participate in the Hospice Festival of Trees last weekend.

Saturday and Sunday morning, parents and their children were able to have breakfast with Santa and have pictures taken with him, and Saturday afternoon participants were able to enjoy the harmony of the Tri-Count barbershop quartet. But the event centered around Saturday night’s auctioning of 38 Christmas trees and wreaths, a fundraiser to support hospice programs.

“I come because it’s a good cause and this is my granddaughter and it’s her first time being able to realize what Christmas means. I get to see her eyes light up, the sense of wonder,” Mattoon resident Gretchen Rawls said about her 18-month-old granddaughter Paige Vogelzang of Charleston.

The trees and wreaths were decorated in a wide variety of ways. One medium-sized tree, “Bring Home the Holidays,” was decorated with Coca-Cola memorabilia. One tree was decorated with football hats and gold-metal, musical instrument ornaments in memory of Harold Hillyer, who had worked in Eastern’s music department, and was known for his collection of over 2,000 hats.

Most of the decorated wreaths hung on old doors that were brought in for the displays. However, one unique display, “The Art of Christmas,” featured an electric fireplace.

“I think it’s a wonderful organization. It’s wonderful to see people here,” said Charleston resident Nettie Cole, who volunteers at the hospital.

There was also a silent auction to raise funds, which local merchants donated items for. Participants bidded on jumper cables, gift baskets, wreaths, pottery, sketches, a VCR and various crafts.

Embroidered shirts, ornaments, candles and chocolates were on sale. Two Huffy bicycles and a hand-made quilted wall hanging, made by Katherine Stewart, were raffled off as well.